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Home » Blog » Disability Benefits » Workers Compensation » Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

David Brannen · May 31, 2019 · Workers Compensation

Each province in Canada has its own Workers Compensation Program that pays disability income to workers who are injured while at work. To be eligible for workers’ compensation payments, you must work for a covered employer and suffer a work-related injury or illness. If you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you can receive disability income payments to age 65, and sometimes longer. You may also qualify for other benefits including, payment of health care and equipment expenses as well as payment for pain and suffering.

Eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits

Each Provinces’ workers’ compensation program has its own eligibility criteria, but generally they all include the following:

  • Your employer has coverage through Workers’ Compensation; and
  • You have suffered a work-related injury or illness.

What are workers’ compensation benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits vary from province to province, but they normally will include a mix of income payments, medical expense benefits, and income cases compensation or pain and suffering.

Deadlines to apply for workers’ compensation benefits

All workers’ compensation programs include strict deadlines to file a claim for benefits. The deadlines can vary from program to program but are usually six months from the date of injury or illness. With some limited exceptions, it is critical that you file a claim for workers’ compensation before the deadline. Failure to file a timely claim is the number one reason an otherwise legitimate claim will be denied.

Interaction of workers compensation benefits and long-term disability benefits

If you are covered by both workers’ compensation and long-term disability insurance, then it is critical that you apply to both programs. Failing to apply to both programs is a common mistake that may result in you being denied benefits under both programs. Seeking to avoid workers’ compensation claims, some employers will try to push workers into only applying for disability insurance benefits, when in fact the worker should be applying to both programs. This is a common mistake that can result in the employee being denied benefits under both program for technical reasons, even though her or she is otherwise legitimately disabled.

Applying for workers’ compensation benefits

The various workers’ compensation programs in Canada share a similar application process. They require the worker to report the illness or injury as soon as possible. Most programs have a six-month deadline to file a report of injury or illness. Each program has its own injury report form. You apply by filing an injury report and sending it to the workers compensation program office.

Appealing a denial of workers compensation benefits

The various workers’ compensation programs have very similar appeal procedures. If your initial claim is denied, you file a reconsideration appeal directly with the Workers Compensation Program. If that appeal is denied, then you typically appeal to an independent tribunal which will give a final decision. Appeals beyond the independent tribunal can only deal with errors of law, so it is essential that you present all evidence in your Tribunal Appeal.

Workers’ compensation programs by province and territory

Each province has its own workers’ compensation program. The rules and benefits are unique to each program.

Workers’ advocates programs by province and territory

AlbertaWorkers Compensation Board of Alberta
9912-017 Street
PO Box 2415
Edmonton, AB T5J 2S5
Tel: 780-498-3999
https://www.wcb.ab.ca
British ColumbiaWorksafeBC (Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia)
6551 Westminster Highway
Richmond, BC V7C 1C6
Tel: 604-231-888
https://www.worsafebc.com
ManitobaWorkers Compensation Board of Manitoba
333 Broadway St.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W3
Tel: 204-954-4999
https://wcb.mb.ca
New BrunswickWorksafeNB
1 Portland St.
PO Box 160
Saint John, NB E2L 3X9
Tel: 506-632-2200
https://worksafenb.ca
Newfoundland and LabradorWorkplace Health, Safety & Compensation
Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador
146-148 Forest Rd.
PO Box 9000
St. John’s, NL A1A 3B8
Tel: 709-778-1000
https://workplacenl.ca/
Northwest Territories and NunavutWorkers Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
5022 49th Street, 5th Floor
Centre Square Tower PO Box 8888
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R3
Tel: 867-920-3888
https://www.wscc.nt.ca
Nova ScotiaWorkers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
5668 South St.
PO Box 1150
Halifax, NS B3J 2Y2
Tel: 902-491-8999
https://www.wcb.ns.ca
OntarioWorkplace Safety and Insurance Board
Head Office
200 Front Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3J1
Tel: 416-344-1000
https://www.wsib.ca/en
Prince Edward IslandWorkers’ Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island
14 Weymouth St.
PO Box 757
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7L7
Tel: 902-368-5680
https://www.wcb.pe.ca
QuebecCommission des norms, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité due travail (CNESST)
524, rue Bourdages
Quebec, Qc G1K 7E2
Tel: 844-838-0808
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board
200-1881 Scarth St.
Regina, SK S4P 4L1
Tel: 306-787-4370
https://wcbsask.com
YukonYukon Worker’s Compensation, Health and Safety Board
401 Strickland St.
Whitehorse, YK Y1A 5N8
Tel: 867-667-5645
https://wcb.yk.ca

Each province and territory has a free legal clinic to represent workers who need to appeal claim denials from the workers’ compensation board. These legal clinics are funded by the provincial government but are independent from the Workers Compensation programs. Each of these legal clinics have their own rules for and criteria for who is eligible for their services. You must contact these clinics to see if they can represent you in your appeal.

AlbertaOffice of the Appeals Advisor
Tel: 866-922-9221
https://www.wcb.ab.ca/workers/appeals_advisor.asp
British ColumbiaWorkers Advisors Office
Tel: 800-663-4261
https://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/wab/
ManitobaWorker Advisor Office
Tel: 800-282-8069
https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/wao/index.html
New BrunswickWorker’s Advocate
Tel: 506-453-2597
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.15396.html
Newfoundland and LabradorWorker’s Advisor
Tel: 800-563-1998
https://workplacenl.ca/workers/worker-advisors/
Northwest Territories and NunavutWorkers’ Advisors Office
Tel: 867-444-0051
https://www.workersadvisor.ca/
Nova ScotiaWorkers’ Advisor Program
Tel: 800-774-4712
https://novascotia.ca/lae/wap/
OntarioOffice of the Workers Advisor
Tel: 416-325-8570
https://www.owa.gov.on.ca
Prince Edward IslandWorker Advisor Program
Tel: 800-658-1806
https://www.gov.pe.ca/labour/index.php3?number=1004722
QuebecService des plaints
Tel: 800-361-9593
https://www.clp.gouv.qc.ca/
SaskatchewanOffice of the Workers’ Advocate
Tel: 877-878-2456
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/safety-in-the-workplace/assistance-for-wcb-claims-and-appeals
YukonWorker’s Advocate
Tel: 867-667-5324
https://www.justice.gov.yk.ca/prog/ms/wad/index.html

Workers Compensation

About David Brannen

A former occupational therapist turned disability lawyer, David has been representing people in disability claims for over fifteen years. David is Resolute Legal's founder and managing lawyer. He is the author of the best selling The Beginner's Guide to CPP Disability, the CPP Application Workbook and A Beginner's Guide to Disability Insurance Claims in Canada.

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